I'm Sioux Roslawski and this is my blog about writing, dogs, grown-up children, menopause, the joy of a marvelous book, classroom teaching in general, and specifically, the teaching of writing. You can email me at sroslawski(at)yahoo(dot)com.

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Yes, last night was another night of our Wild Women With Pens gathering, where we make suggestions and disturb...well, you know.

Usually we're a rowdy group. Twice already, the police have been called on us; the neighbors reported loud snorting and guffawing, squeals of laughter, and strange screams, like:

"I'm gonna get the top of George Clooney's head tattooed right here!"

"Fargo him! Put him in the chipper and chip-chip-chip him away."

"OMG! That story on flatulence was...explosive!"

"I've never heard of a workout being so...hot! Show me his picture again."

Last night, we were subdued. Restrained. Proper. However, I can't figure out why the evening was so different.

Anyway, in spite of the low decibel level and the still-dry-at-the-end-of-the-night panties, I learned some things and was reminded of something.

1. Six or seven heads are always better than one. Even if someone makes a suggestion that you disagree with, the act of going back and rethinking and rationalizing your word choice/arrangement (usually) strengthens the piece.

2. Working for little or no money is not always a bad thing. If an author writes for an anthology that only pays $5 or $10, it's a way to support the editors/publishers, it's a notch on our publication belt, and you never know what connections you can make.

3. If you eat four pieces of birthday cake with cream cheese frosting, due to the high protein content of cream cheese, you're getting four servings from the "meat" group. Really. I'm serious.

4. When an integral cog in our wheel of fun is missing, it's just not the same...

Hopefully our next meeting will find us back to normal. Oh, that's right. It'll be another one full of whispered advice. I suppose someone else could step up to the plate and take charge of the bawdy revelry. Linda O'Connell? You've been known to clear tables--at least of full glasses of soda. Are you up to the challenge?

My Peeps--The WWWPs

A writing critique group can help improve one's craft. However, when it comes to the Wild Women Wielding Pens, it also makes for a snortingly-good time.

Sioux

I'm a full time 3rd grade teacher and a part time writer.

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Like wads of paper ever mounting, in a metal trash can in a barren room save for a table, a chair and a typewriter, I stuff the holes of my life with words, Therein lies my addiction. I am a writer. ---Jean Ellen Whatley from Off the Leash

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